The cigar industry needs your help to exempt premium cigars from FDA regulation. H.R. 1639 / Senate Bill 1461 has been filed.  This legislation would decree that premium/traditional cigars should be off limits to FDA regulation.

Let’s face it, cigars have little in common with cigarettes, and we need to keep it that way. Should cigars fall under FDA regulation, the industry would be gone as we know it. What is their biggest ammo against cigars? Kids. Cigars are in no way marketed towards children. I believe protecting children should fall on the shoulders of those who chose to not use contraceptives. I am sick of protecting the children of lazy parents… But back to the topic at hand.

Some likely scenarios of FDA regulation are:

Regulate cigars in the same way that they regulate cigarettes.

Say goodbye to your premium cigars. The days of browsing the humidor would be gone.

No more cigar events.

You’ll have to ask for cigars behind the counter just like cigarettes at 7-11.

Blends would have to be FDA approved – No more flavor.

New taxes would be implemented to finance regulation. You thought SCHIP was bad.

Who know what else they’ll come up with. Their imagination is the limit.

How can you help? Cigar Rights of America has made it easy for you to pitch in. They have a link to a form that will take you minutes to fill out. OR you can print out this PDF and fax it. It’s that easy.

The FDA is corrupt and fascist, like many branches of government. They are owned by special interest lobbyists and corporations. What happened to “For the people?” Do you need government to help you protect you from yourself by limiting your choices? You’d think they have bigger things to worry about than a small niche market. Such is not the case. Let’s try to keep this one small pleasure intact! While the war on the middle class wages on, I want to at least be able to enjoy a cigar!

Take 5 minutes out of your life and pitch in!

Friday, July 22nd 2011 is the 4th annual Smoke a JJ for JJ day. It’s easy… Spark up a Don Pepin Garcia Series JJ and enjoy the time you’ll spend relaxing. Don’t have any Series JJ’s? No problem. Dig out your favorite cigar and smoke up.

For those of you asking “Why?” July 22nd would have been JJ’s fourth birthday. JJ is the son of Stogie Review founding member Jerry. He died of SIDS at 3.5 months of age.

So every year we have a Series JJ to relax, reflect, and show respect to JJ, Jerry, and family.

Long ashes…

Update – 7/22/2011

Wow what a great turnout for the occasion. Here is our little contribution from earlier tonight:

From earlier today-

Make sure to mark your calendar now for the Pepin cigar smoker event at St. Pete Cigar on March 11th, 2011 from 5PM to 8pm. See you there!

Note from Ed:

We are launching the “First” cigar event of the year on Friday, March 11th from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm.  We have a new line of cigars from Don Pepin Garcia and the My Father cigars.  They are very excited to be doing the first event of the year for us.

As we have done in the past, buy 3 cigars and get 1 free, buy 5 cigars and get 2 free.  When you buy a box you get 7 free cigars along with 15% off the price!  There will be great door prizes and we will be serving food.  The food is being sponsored by The Law Office of Ron Croft in Seminole Florida.
Tell all your friends to come and enjoy the event in the new cigar lounge.
Thank you again for your support.

It is only right that he has a grand opening to celebrate the occasion.

So mark your calendar for Saturday, January 8th. Throughout the day (11am – 7pm) there will be raffles, food, and of course cigars. Check here for any updates, or visit Ed’s website.

A quick update – Quite a few of you have contacted me asking “What about the next Ed/Tom review?” Ed and I are getting together this month, after his grand opening, to do a review. We are arranging to have a guest who is well respected and you all will recognize him immediately. Stay tuned!

The event is over and was a great success. Thanks to everyone who attended. Good times!

St. Pete Cigar will be hosting their final cigar smoker event of 2010. The featured brand is Torano Cigars. As always, there will be one day only deals, raffles, door prizes and food. So make sure you stop by! See you there you bastards!